Highlighting the potentially dangerous weather that can ravage the region, the Barton County Commission Wednesday morning approved a proclamation marking the week as Severe Weather Preparedness Week in an effort to educate citizens about severe weather and to help them prepare for a life-threatening severe weather event.
Emergency Risk Manager Amy Miller said this is a cooperative effort of the National Weather Service, the Kansas Emergency Management Association, and local county emergency management agencies.
She also suggested residents participate in the statewide tornado drill scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday.
“Barton County can be devastated by flooding, tornadoes, hail, windstorms, wildfires and other potentially dangerous events,” Miller said. “Severe weather often occurs at night, which demonstrates the importance of having the ability to receive warnings 24 hours a day.”
She also advised residents to have multiple methods of receiving alerts, from TV and radio to mobile phone apps.
“All schools, businesses and citizens are encouraged to prepare and practice personal safety plans,” she said. Everyone should check their emergency kits, and plan and practice escape routes.
“Barton County Emergency Management reminds everyone to be ready,” she said.
Thunderstorms, lightning, wildfires, hail, strong winds, and flooding have caused millions of dollars in damage to homes, businesses, and local government infrastructure in Kansas, she said. So, everyone is encouraged to make a plan for how to shelter from a storm, create an emergency preparedness kit for everyone in their household, decide how they will receive emergency alerts and warnings, and practice their plan.
“It is essential that we increase awareness of the dangers of severe weather hazards as well as the protective actions that all Barton County residents can take,” she said.
Over the course of 2021, 37 tornadoes occurred in 38 Kansas counties, two in Barton County, according to the National Weather Service. This is significantly lower than the 10-year average of 71 tornadoes per year and the 30-year average of 86 tornadoes per year.
The strongest tornado was an EF2 occurring on March 13 in Gray County. With a path length of 12.15 miles, the tornado had the second longest path length for the year.
No injuries or fatalities associated with the tornadoes were reported.
May was the most active month for tornadoes with 18 reported. Most of those tornadoes occurred between May 24 and May 26 when separate tornado outbreaks resulted in a total of 12 tornadoes and damage to at least one town. A late season outbreak on Oct. 12 resulted in an additional 11 tornadoes across the state.
